Big Mac Attack

Well I finally did it. After many years of friends looking aghast when I tell them that I'm still in PC world, I drank the kool-aid. Okay, if I'm going to be realistic, I guess I did a canonball into the deep end of the kool-aid. It started a couple years ago when I started playing around with iTunes. I liked the look. I liked that it was easy, I liked being able to search for just about any artist and find them. So a year later, I bought an iPod. It became an instant old friend, traveling with me to work every day, replacing the stacks of CDs. Then this past summer came the iPhone. Not to replace my iPod, but really because it was time for a new phone. I like my iPhone, but there are a few things I miss about my regular old cell phone - mostly the easy phone functions that I haven't become adept at yet on the new one (including good voice dialing, video recorder). Then last month I took a giant bite of the apple and bought a MacBook. And I'm in love.


At first, I was scared. I opened the box and couldn't find the stack of set-up manuals, user guides and extraneous software that usually comes with a new PC. I thought for sure something was missing when all I could find was this tiny booklet of information. But that seems typical of the other Apple products I've purchased. But as soon as I powered it up, I was in awe. So bright and clean as the keyboard literally shines up at me. It's like I hear the angels sing every time I open the lid. Again, I had some anxiety at first because I couldn't find all the stuff I had to install and set up and the plethora of Welcome screens that you have to fight your way through. Everything was pre-installed, with the exception of email. I had a little trouble setting that up, which seems to be typical with my ISP. But finally I tried something that I thought for SURE wouldn't work because it was just too easy, and voila. I'm in. It took a couple days for that nervousness to fade away and accept the zen-like tranquility of this new technology.


Since then I've added a few new programs on my own, and I have to say the ease of the drag-and-drop installations nearly makes me teary-eyed. It's never been this easy before. I've so quickly adapted that there have been a few times that I have become frustrated at work because it feels so cumbersome.


The only really scary part of this experience has been the cost. Apple's not cheap by any means. But my hope and expectation is that it's worth it and will be for a long time. I think the only thing I'm unhappy with is that I chose to purchase a corded mouse instead of spending the extra for the bluetooth mouse. The cord is a little short, but I just find myself using the pad more often. Not such a bad thing.


I will admit that there is a certain social stigma that comes with Apple. But I don't care. I'm hooked. I'm so in awe that I have to keep my enthusiasm in check - I've been been accused a few times of trying to convert my friends and co-workers to the cult of Mac. But I don't care. I'm a happy convert.